Grain-separator.



No. 820,265. PATENTED MAY 8, `1906. T. W. SLUTZ & K. 0. LEE.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2l @pvda/momo NQ.-82Q,265. PATENTED MAY 8, 1906, T. W. SLUTZ'&K. 0. LEB.

GRAINYSEPARATORL APPLICATION FILED APE.10. 19A05.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 34 Sme/whom W 57M?,

THOMAS W. SLUTZ AND KNUTE O.

LEE, "ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA.

GRAIN-SEPARATon-f Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 8, 1906.

Application led April 10, 1905. Serial No. 254.803.

To afll'whom it may cancer/'70:

Be it known that we, THOMAS W. SLUTZ and KNUTE O. LEE, citizensof the United States, residing at Aberdeen, in Brown and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-separators; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to l make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in threshing-machines and separators.

The object of the invention is to provide a threshing-machine having connected thereto a separating mechanism, whereby the grain or seedof any kind will be separated from the straw or grass and thoroughly cleaned.

A further object is to improve and simplify the' construction and arrangement of machines of this character, whereby the same will be efficient and reliable in operation and less expensive to manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view Vthe invention consists of 'certain novel features of construction,

combination, and arran ement of parts, as will be hereinafter descri ed and claimed.

' In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the threshing-machine and separator. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionall view of the threshing-mac ine and separator constructed in accordance with the Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view showin the arrangement of the airblast fans an tubes, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction and arrangement of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the separator-drum, showing the arrangement of the beating and feeding arms andthe segmental stop-plates. Fig. 5 is an enlarged ldetail cross-sectional view through one of the double perforated air-blast tubes, illustrating the manner -I inv which the same may be adjusted to vary the size of the aperture formed therein; and Figs. 6 and 7 are detail fragmentary sectional views showing modified constructions of the separating-drum. i

Referring more particularly to the drawings, -1 denotes the frame of the machine, which may be of any suitable 'construction and is provided with supporting-wheels 2. On the forward end of the frame 1 is arranged the usual spiked threshing-cylinder 3, which coacts' with the usual concave 4, located beinvention.

the county of neath the same and into which grain to be threshed is fed from the usual feeding board or table 5. The grain after leaving the threshing-cylinder 3 passes between the usual rotary beater 6 and the rear inclined portion 7 cf the concave 4 and is thereby directed into a perforated non-revoluble se arator-drum 8. This drum 8 extends longitu zontal plane, and the grain is fedv therethrough by means of a rotary beater 6 and feeder 10.

concentrically mounted the drum 8, said shaft being provided atintervals along its length with curved laterally-projecting beating and feeding arms 12, which as the shaft revolves will throw the straw and chaff against the sides of the cylinder, thus thoroughly a itati'ng the same and separating the vgrain an seed therefrom. The rotary action of the arms 12 also tends to move the straw and chaff rearwardly through the drum to the delivery end of the sa'me, where it is discharged into a suitable stacker-tube hereinafter'described. On the forward portion of the shaft 1l, between the beating and feedin arms 12, is arranged a series of se menta blades 12a. Saidy blades are attached to colinally in-a hori- The latter comprises -a shaft 11, on which is lars which are-secured to the shaft by means of set-screws 12b, the several blades being dis-v posed radially around the gethera complete circle. Said blades form stops against which the flying grain will strike, thus preventing the discharge of the same from the end of the cylinder. The. blades are located at such distances apart to permit the free `passage of straw between them, and the number andzsize of the same may vary according to the size of the drum. The drum 8 is preferably constructed from an endless strip 13 of metal, which is wound spirally and edgewise to form the cylinder or drum 8. The spirally-wound portions of the strip are provided at suitable intervals with alined apertures, and between the spirallywound portions ofthe strip are arranged short sections of tubing 14, through which and the alined apertures in the strip is adapted to be passed tie bolts or rods 15, which extend throughout the entire length of the cylinder and have applied to their threaded ends nuts 16, whereby the spiral portions of the strip may be securely clamped into engagement with the tubular sections 14, thus firmly holding said spiral portions of the strip tol charge-Spaces between the same. The spishaft to form to- IIO gether, and held apart to form the desired disrally-wound portions of the strip 13 may be arranged in a vertical position at right angles to the length of the drum, but are preferably wound at an oblique angle thereto, as shown.

Beneath the concave 4 and the forward end of the drum 8 is arranged a table or platform 17, while beneath the rear end of the drum 8 is arranged a table or platform 18. The latter platform is spaced a short distance from IO the rear. en d of the first platform and arranged in-a plane below the same. Adapted to move over the tables 17 and 18 is an endless slatted conveyer 19, said conveyer passing around rollers 20, arranged transversely I5 in the front and rear ends of the machine, the ulpper stretch of the conveyer passing over i t 1e upper table 17 while the lower stretch of the conveyer runs over the lower table v18. By this arrangement the seed `or grain dropping upon the table 17 will be carried rearwardly by the upper stretch of the conveyer until the same reaches the 'rear end of said ta ble, where it will drop `between the adjacent ends of the u per and lower tables 17 and 18.

The grain fal ing u on the lower table 18 will be carried forwar ly thereon by the lower stretch of the conveyer and swept off the forward end of said table, las will be understood.

, 4Thegrain after being swept off the tables 17 and.18 by the conveyer 19 will fall upon an inclined grain-shoe 21, arranged below said tables, where it will be subjected to the blast of air from a erforated air-cylinder 22, hereinafter descri ed, which will blow the tailings and the imperfect grain rearwardly into a4 tailings screw or conveyer 23, while the whole or perfect grain will drop directly into a grain conveyerscrew 24, located immediately below the space between the upper ends of the tables 17 and 18.

In order that the straw and chaff may be i more thoroughly separated from the grain,

a 'system of air or wind blast tubes 1s arranged, whereby drafts of air'will be'directed upon the grain and straw at suitable places during the threshin and separating process. The air or wind'for t ese various tubes is sup- ,plied by means ofl a series of fans mounted upon a shaft25, which is arranged below the 5 0 framevof the machine immediatel in -rear of the lfront supporting-wheels, as s own. On one end of the shaft 25 adjacent to one side of vthe machine vis secured a driver pulley 26, While on the opposite end ofthe shaft is mounted la fan 27. Said fan is arranged in'a suitable casing 28, to which is connected va f wind or'air blast tube 29, which extends rear -wardly along one side of the machine and across the lrear end of the same, at which 6o point suitable connection is made between -thesame and the tailings-'conveyer23- The y tube 29 then passes around the opposite side of the machine, then upwardly above the threshing-cylinder 3, where it turns down- 6 5 .wardlyand discharges onto said cylinder. A

emacs branch of the. tube V29 extendsz rearwardly.

and opens into the vforward end of the sepa tube 29 said grain will be discharged upon the cylinder 3, while the dust and dirt therein will be blown through the screen 30 and the branch tube and will-be discharged directly into the cylinder and carried therethrou. h by the air blast and discharged into'the straw-'stacker tube 31 at the end of the same.

`On the shaft 25, near the side of the machine, are mounted two fans 32, around which are arranged casings33, with which are connected wind or `air blast tubes 34. These tubes 34 extend rearward ly to the lrearend of the separator-cylind er 8, where they cometogether, and are connected with the strawi stacker tube 31 in any suitable manner, whereby a blast 0f air will be discharged into and through thesame to carry the straw and chaff which have been discharged vtherein from the delivery end of the vseparating-cylinder through said stacker-tube, by which the samewill be deposited at any :desired-place. With the tubes 34 are connected upwardlyprojecting branch tubes 35, which are conf nec'ted at their upper ends with the perforated drum 22, arranged immediately in a blast of air vwill be directed onto the rain falling upon said shoe to separate the tailings therefrom, as hereinbefore described. vSuitable dempers 37 are arranged .in the branch pipes 35, whereby the force of the air-blast passng through the drum 36 may be reguateA On the shaft 25 between the fansf'32 isv mounted a fan 38, around which is arranged Ifront of the grain-shoe 21 and through `which i a casing 39,'with the forward end of which is vconnected air-blast tubes 40. These tubes 40 extend in opposite directions toward the opposite sides o the machine and open into double perforated air-tubes 41, which are arranged on each side of the machine immediately below and extending the entire length of the se arating-drum 8 and from which a blast o air is ydirected against the under side of the cylinder or drum 8. This airblast passes through the space formed by the spirally-wound strip forming said drum, which will materially assist in separating the grain. from the straw as the same is passed throu h the drum. The tubes 41 are preferably ormed double or one tube within another. Each of said inner and outer tubes is provided on its upper inner side with a series vof discharge-apertures,said inner tube be-v ing adapted to 'be turned within the outer tube to bring the apertures in the two tubes into and out of alinement to open or close said apertures or to vary the size of the same, thus regulating the discharge4 or passage of air through the same or through the separator-cylinder 8. To the rear side of the casing 29 is connected an air-blast tube 42, which extends to av suitable grain elevator and weigher 43. l. f

Over the upper side of the drum or cylinder 8 is arranged a hlood or semicircular casing 44, which is supported upon a suitable frame arranged on the side of the machine, as shown The hood or casing 24 serves to catch any grain which may be thrown or blown between the spirally-wound strips forming the drum and by which said grain will be caused to drop upon the tables 17 and 18 below said cylinder.

By providing a series of `air or Wind blast tubes in connection with a se arator, as herein described, the grain wil be thoroughly cleaned and separated from the chaff and straw, the latter being conducted by said airblast to any desired place of discharge.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided whereby motion will be imparted to the rotary beater and feeder shaft, also to the grain and tailings conveyer and to the drive-pulley Y on the fan-shaft.- For the purpose of this specification the shaft l is shown connected to a shaft -45 by miter-gears 46. Said shaft 45 has a pulley 47, driven by a belt 48 from a pulley 49 on the fan-sh aft 25.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified construction of separator-drum. In this instance instead of the same being formed of a flat strip wound spirally the same is formed of aspirallywound strip of angle or V-sha ed'iron. In Fig. 6 is shown another modi ed construction of drum. shown as formed of perforated sheet metal.

, In each of these forms the ends of the drum.

will be provided with binding rings or collars, to which the side portion' is attached.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the construction and-operation of the invention will be readily understood without re.

quiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of theadvantages of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Leta series of curved feeding and beatin(T arms the separating-cylinder, an .endless slatted.

projecting from saidshaft, grain-tab es arranged below said threshing mechanism and conveyer adapted to remove the grain from said tables, a grain-shoe to receive the grain fron said tables, a grain-conveyer and a tailv In this instance the same is` ings-conveyer arranged on said shoe, a perforated airdischarge cylinder arranged in front of said grain-shoe to discharge a blast of air over the same, apneumatic stacker-tube arranged at the discharge end of the drum, air-blast fans mounted on the frame of the machine, and air-blast tubes connecting'said fans with the stacker-tube, the 'dischargecylinder of the grain-shoe, thetailingsconveyer and the separator-drum, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the'character described, the combination with a threshing mechanism, of aseparating-drurn having open-work sides, a revoluble shaft arranged in said drum, a 'series of curved feeding and beating arms projecting from said shaft, grain-tables arranged'below said threshing mechanismand the separating-cylinder, an endless slatted yconveyer adapted to remove the grain from said tables, a grain-shoe to receive thegrain from said tables', a grain-conveyer and a tailings-conveyer arranged on said shoe, a perforated air-discharge cylinder arranged in front of said grain-shoe to discharge a blast of air over the same, a pneumatic stacker-tube a'rrangedat the discharge end of the drum, perforated air-discharge tubes arranged beneath the separator-drum, means whereby the dis- A charge of air` from said tubes may be regulated, air-blast fans mounted on the frame ofv the'machine, and air-blast tubes leadingfrom the casings of saidfans to the stacker-tube, the discharge-cylinder of the grain-shoe, the

tails-conveyer, theair-discharge tubes for the separator-drum and to said drum, substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination witha threshing mechanism, of a separating-drum having open-Work sides ,a revoluble shaft arranged in said drum, a series of curved feeding and beating arms projecting from said shaft, grain-tables arranged below said threshing mechanism and the separating-cylinder, an endless slatted conveyer adapted to remove the grain from IOO IIO

said tables, a grain-shoe to receive the grain from said tables, a grain-conveyer and a tailings-conveyer arranged onsaid shoe, a perforated air-discharge cylinder arranged in front of said grain-shoe to discharge a blast of air over the same, a pneumatic stacker-tube arranged `at the discharge end of the drum, double, perforated air-tubes arranged beneath 'and at each side of the separator-drum, the inner member of said double tubes being adapted to be turned Within the outer thereby va rying the size of the discharge-openings in the same, air-blast fans, mounted on said frame, air-blast tubes leading from the casings of said fans to the stacker-tube, branch pipes leading from said tubes to the dischargecylinder of the grain-shoe, regulating-dampers .arran ed in said branch pipes, an aire. blast tube eading from said fans to the taillizc ings-conveyer and from thence to the threshing-cylinder, a branch pipe leading from said tubo to the front end of the separator-drum, a screen arranged in said branch pipe, and air-blast tubes leading from the fan to the double perforated airdischarge tubes beneath said drum, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a threshing mechanism, of a separating-drum having open-work sides, a revoluble shaft arranged in said drum, a series of curved feeding and beating arms projecting from said shaft, grain-tables arranged below said threshing mechanism and the separating-cylinder, an endless slatted conveyer adapted to remove the grain from said tables, a grain-shoe to receive the grain from said tables, a grain-conveyer and a tailings-conveyer arranged. on said shoe, a perforated air-discharge cylinder arranged in front of said grain-shoe to discharge a blast of air over the same, a pneumatic stacker-tube arranged at the discharge end of the drum, a grain elevator and weigher arranged on the machine, a revolubly-mounted fan-shaft, a series of fans arranged on said shaft, casings arranged on said fans, air-blast tubes connecting said fan-casings with the stacker-tube and with the various parts of the separating mechanism whereby blasts of air will be discharged upon the same, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of thecharacter described, the combination with a threshing mechanism, of a separating-drum having open-work sides, a revoluble shaft arranged in said drum, feeding and beating arms projecting from said shaft, a series of radially-disposed segmental blades arranged around said shaft between said feeding and beating arms to form stops, and a pneumatic stacker tube arranged on the machine and in communication with the discharge end of the drum, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS W. SLUTZ. KNUTE O. LEE.k Witnesses:

EMMA WETTER, MARGARET LAWRENCE. 

